First of all, is your passport current? Although the media has been saying that the wait time is down, the official website (www.usa.gov) says, “Renew early. Passport processing times vary. And some countries and airlines deny entry if your passport expires in less than 6 months.”
Then, there’s the issue of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry renewal. Both can now be done online. The TSA PreCheck website (www.tsa.gov) advises that you can renew online in 5 minutes and enjoy 5 more years of benefits.
Global Entry Renewal is also easy to do online. Renewal info can be submitted anytime during the year before current membership expires. Visit https://ttp.dhs.gov/. A Tidelines team member recently submitted the application one day, received approval the following day and new card arrived in the mail three days later!
You probably know that many countries have long required entry visas. Some are relatively inexpensive and the application can be completed online (think Australia and New Zealand). Others are more complex and some may even require a visit to the appropriate Embassy or Consulate.
But did you know the EU (European Union Schengen area) will soon require ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) for entry for all non-Europeans into all the countries in the EU? Travelers from outside the EU will need to fill out an application before arrival and pay a fee of €7; it is free for all applicants over 70! The program has been in the works for several years and is currently scheduled to launch around May 2025.
There is more and this is more immediate! With the UK (United Kingdom) no longer part of the EU, a separate ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) will be required for anyone planning to visit the UK, except for British and Irish citizens. All travelers will need to apply and be approved for an ETA prior to their trip. The document will then be linked to the traveler’s passport to “ensure more robust security checks.” US citizens can apply for ETAs at www.gov.uk beginning November 27, 2024; they will be required for travel to the UK from January 8, 2025. An ETA will cost £10 and will permit multiple trips to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever is sooner. The aim of the program is to digitize the UK border and immigration system.
The moral is travel to Europe is about to become more complex.
Plan ahead!
–Tidelines Editors